The cricket world was left stunned on Monday after India’s batting icon Virat Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket.

Ahead of India’s much-anticipated tour of England next month, Kohli brought the curtain down in red-ball cricket, a format where he will go down as a modern-day great. 

With his passion, intensity and unmatched fitness levels, Kohli brought a renewed sense of excitement and became the poster boy of Test cricket.

Arguably one of the greatest batters of all time, the 36-year-old amassed 9,230 runs in 123 Tests at an average of 46.85. He slammed 30 centuries and 31 fifties in the longest format of the game.

Matches

Innings

Runs

Average

100s

50s

123

210

9230

46.85

30

31

Known for his stellar record both at home and overseas, Kohli scored 4,336 runs in 55 home Test matches at an average of 55.58, while accumulating 4,894 runs in 68 away Tests at an average of 41.13.

Fourth-most runs for India in Tests

Kohli has finished his red-ball career with the fourth-most runs for India, behind Sunil Gavaskar (10,122), Rahul Dravid (13,265) and Sachin Tendulkar (15,921).

Player

Matches

Innings

Runs

Sachin Tendulkar

200

329

15921

Rahul Dravid

163

284

13265

Sunil Gavaskar

125

214

10122

Virat Kohli

123

210

9230

“It’s been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It’s tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I’ll carry for life,” Kohli posted on his Instagram page.

“There’s something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.

"As I step away from this format, it’s not easy — but it feels right. I’ve given it everything I had, and it’s given me back so much more than I could’ve hoped for. 

“I’m walking away with a heart full of gratitude — for the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I’ll always look back at my Test career with a smile. #269, signing off,” he added.

Kohli was at his prime in Test cricket from 2016 to 2019. Batting in the middle-order, Kohli racked up 4,208 runs in 43 Tests at an average of 66.79, with 16 hundreds and 10 fifties in 69 innings. 

He also registered his highest Test score of an unbeaten 254 against South Africa in Pune in 2019 to record his seventh double century. Only Don Bradman (12), Kumar Sangakkara (11) and Brian Lara (9) have more double tons than Kohli in Test cricket.

His twin centuries (115 and 141) against Australia in Adelaide in 2014, 149 versus England at Edgbaston in 2018, 153 against South Africa at Centurion in 2018, 119 & 96 versus South Africa in Johannesburg in 2013, are some of Kohli’s most iconic knocks in Test cricket, which will be remembered for years to come. 

India’s most successful Test captain

Apart from his remarkable legacy with the bat in red-ball cricket, Kohli cemented his place as India’s most successful Test captain.

Virat Kohli’s captaincy record in Test cricket

Matches

Won

Lost

Draw

Win %

68

40

17

11

58.82

Under his leadership, India registered 40 wins in 68 Tests between 2014 and 2022. MS Dhoni (27), Sourav Ganguly (21) and Mohammad Azharuddin (14) are behind Kohli on the list. Overall, Steve Waugh (41), Ricky Ponting (48), and Graeme Smith (53) are the three skippers ahead of Kohli with more wins as Test captains. 

India clinched its first away Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018-19 under Kohli’s captaincy. Furthermore, India won all the 11 Test series at home when Kohli was the captain.

From 2016 to 2021, the Kohli-led Indian side dominated the Test format as they claimed the No.1 spot on the ICC Test Team rankings for five consecutive years. India also reached the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship (WTC) in 2021.

Interestingly, Kohli is fourth on the list of most runs as Test captain (5,864), only behind Ricky Ponting (6,542), Allan Border (6,623) and Graeme Smith (8,659).

Additionally, Kohli recorded the most Test centuries (20) by an Indian captain, with Gavaskar second on the list with 11 hundreds. 

While Kohli has officially retired from Test and T20I cricket, he will continue to don the Men in Blue jersey in the 50-over format.